Amiko Kobayashi (hotlittlehands) wrote,
@ 2011-12-13 17:37:00

AU: A Real Lady
Many called Clan Yashida's holdings a corporate empire with multiple security contracts with the Japanese government. Others called it the closest contemporary Japan could get to a shogunate. Everyone, however, knew about the young daimyo's... fixations. Living fairly austerely for one so wealthy, Amiko Kobayashi used her financial savvy to direct all clan resources to two things. The first was the protection and well being of people throughout the clan. The second was the devastation of every Hand operation they could track down.

Some months ago, she had interfered in an incident in the middle of the street out of concern for the safety of the arresting officers.

It had proven quite lucky, although at times she felt like a dirty old woman for enjoying the view.
Tonight, Amiko asked Hajime to see her in her office.

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	get_medieval 2011-12-14 03:06 pm UTC (link)
	He smiles, quirking a brow. "I was taught, but not very well. I was not aware you knew the ceremony. Would you do me the honor of serving, then?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hotlittlehands 2011-12-14 03:17 pm UTC (link)
	"I learned as a child, but never improved." Yukio had certainly had no time for such things, and combat training, higher education, and her own private war had gotten in the way. "It would be my pleasure." And she does her best to do so with adequate propriety. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	get_medieval 2011-12-14 04:15 pm UTC (link)
	Regardless of the errors, he makes no attempt to correct her. That would be rude, and as odd as it is to have his daimyo in that role, its a pleasure being served tea again. He conducts his portions of the ritual, if not perfectly, at least rather well, having had more training, long ago, on being on the side of the ceremony of receiving. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hotlittlehands 2011-12-14 04:47 pm UTC (link)
	And Amiko forces herself to ignore all the sudden worries that she's making said mistakes. Because she probably is, but she can't fix that now, so perfectionism isn't going to help anything right this moment. But while she may, in fact, be more nervous serving tea than in combat, it's still... nice. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	get_medieval 2011-12-14 04:53 pm UTC (link)
	He compliments her service at the appropriate points, and seems to quite enjoy the experience. "Your teachers did very well." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hotlittlehands 2011-12-14 05:10 pm UTC (link)
	She smiles, just slightly flushed. "Thank you." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	get_medieval 2011-12-14 05:15 pm UTC (link)
	"Of course, Amiko-sama. Had I known you had been trained for this, I would have asked you to tea long ago, I am sorry." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hotlittlehands 2011-12-14 05:42 pm UTC (link)
	"Difficult to know when we'd never discussed it, but I will be happy to join you in future, when we have the time. My training in this, like my training in several things, was... incomplete -- the fault merely of circumstances, not instruction. They did it perfectly, my Lady Mother especially." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	get_medieval 2011-12-14 05:51 pm UTC (link)
	"We can make the time. As for your training... circumstances will do that. My training was reasonable, when young... but only from one side of the table." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hotlittlehands 2011-12-14 06:00 pm UTC (link)
	"Understandable. I've always tried to learn a lot of things from more than one angle." A bit of an understatement, really. "Sometimes have worked better than others." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	get_medieval 2011-12-14 06:04 pm UTC (link)
	"You have a lot of different faces you must wear, so it is understandable." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hotlittlehands 2011-12-14 06:56 pm UTC (link)
	She just nods, appreciatively. "It's...nice to get a chance to talk. Aside from work." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	get_medieval 2011-12-14 07:04 pm UTC (link)
	He nods. "It is. Especially with as focused as work has been lately. Ignoring work, then, what would you like to talk about?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hotlittlehands 2011-12-14 07:12 pm UTC (link)
	"How about you? If you don't mind my asking, what made you decide to pursue the path you did?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

get_medieval
2011-12-14 07:38 pm UTC (link)

"The blade I carry is one of the first of Goro Nyudo Masamune's early works. My family was gifted with it for exemplary service. When my parents were told that I showed a gift for the blade, when I was very young, my father was able to arrange for a swordmaster to begin my teaching, in exchange for many favors. I wished to be worthy of my family's faith, my master, and to inherit the sword one day."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hotlittlehands 2011-12-14 07:43 pm UTC (link)
	She nods. "I see. I'm sure they'd be proud." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	get_medieval 2011-12-14 08:01 pm UTC (link)
	He shakes his head. "Not yet." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hotlittlehands 2011-12-14 08:11 pm UTC (link)
	Another nod, acknowledging his intention there. "Soon." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	get_medieval 2011-12-14 09:30 pm UTC (link)
	He nods. "Indeed. Soon I will be eligible to gain vengeance upon my father's killer, so there will be no outstanding debt. Then it only remains to cleanse my family's honor of his failure." he replies, looking down as he says it. "Though I will be sorry to leave your service." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hotlittlehands 2011-12-14 10:00 pm UTC (link)
	She listens normally at first, then blinks. "I shouldn't think the descendants of your previous lord would have need of your skills..." She blinks again. "Which would be the only way I would be willing to lose you, let me be clear." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	get_medieval 2011-12-14 10:43 pm UTC (link)
	He considers that, with a slight frown. "I see. I can, of course, not commit seppuku to clear my family's shame and allow them access to the celestial realms without your permission. I will understand entirely if it is forbidden... though there are few other ways. Perhaps eventually my service will merit being permitted to atone for their failure." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

hotlittlehands
2011-12-14 11:11 pm UTC (link)

She swallows hard, her expression, firm. "...I personally think that since your father sacrificed his life, and the family lost you for most purposes as you pursued this, and waited seven hundred years for justice, I think whether your death is necessary to expiate their failure is debatable. But at any rate, there'll be plenty of time to figure that out. I do forbid you. They've waited centuries for justice, they can wait a few more for anything further. I am not going to let valuable resources be thrown away and..." She cuts herself off to keep from showing that her voice is tightening. She looks away because she's tearing up.

Amiko's father and brother are immortal. The medical argument is 'potentially very long-lived', but she knows that they just can't die. She knows because she's loved them for so long...and they still haven't been killed.

The gods can give her three, right? Isn't she allowed three?

She swallows hard again. "So. Yes. I'm glad you understand that."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

get_medieval
2011-12-14 11:42 pm UTC (link)

He hides his surprise after a few moments, features again hardening.
"Justice will occur first. Before anything else can happen, the murderer must be brought to justice. That allows even the possibility my family can be forgiven, and their spirits allowed to access the celestial courts... but just stopping his killer will not clear their shame... I bear that burden."

He sighs. "But a samurai's first duty is not to their family, it is to their lord. If it is forbidden, then it will be as you say and I will bear my family's failure a time longer."

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	hotlittlehands 2011-12-14 11:54 pm UTC (link)
	She wishes she hadn't pursued the matter so hard for him, but that wouldn't do either. A lot was at stake if a man like that was working with the Hand. But at least he wasn't fighting for the right to ~~leave her~~ commit seppuku. Sometimes it was good to be the daimyo. So she nodded silently. "Thank you for the tea. I will see you in the morning." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	get_medieval 2011-12-15 03:11 am UTC (link)
	He is a samurai first. 700 years have ensured there is very little else left. "Of course. If there is anything else I can do, please let me know. I will clean up. Thank you very much for the tea." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)